Catalog
Pfennig - Adalbert of Bohemia
| Issuer | Bishopric of Gurk (Austrian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1170-1200 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 1.21 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a large stylized letter or architectural motif — likely a bishop's crozier or ecclesiastical initial — rendered in bold, deeply struck relief within a plain field. The design is surrounded by multiple concentric incuse or raised rope-pattern rings, typical of Romanesque bracteate-influenced pfennig coinage of the Bishopric of Gurk. The strike is irregular, consistent with hand-hammered production, and flan irregularities are evident at the edges. No legend or inscription is present. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Bishopric of Gurk was founded in 1072 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg, and its early coinage reflects the fractured monetary authority of the southern Alpine region during the Investiture Contest's long aftermath. Adalbert, whose episcopate falls within this striking period, presided over a see that held unusual independence from the Archbishopric of Salzburg despite its origins as a Salzburg foundation.
The CNA reference places this among the bracteate-influenced pfennigs of Carinthia, a regional minting tradition distinct from the thinner bracteates of northern Germany.